Cleveland Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner and Oakland Athletics pitcher Esteban Loaiza have been
named the American League Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for August.

Hafner reached base safely in 24 games during the month of August and finished with 83 total bases. In 28
overall games, the 29-year-old batted .361 (35-97) with 13 home runs (led the A.L.) and 30 RBI (tied for most in the
A.L. with Jermaine Dye of the Chicago White Sox). He had a 14-game hitting-streak from August 10-24. Hafner
also had nine doubles and scored 25 runs while posting a .484 on-base percentage and a .856 slugging percentage
in August. He drove in two or more runs in a game on eight different occasions last month. Against the Kansas City
Royals on August 13, Hafner had a double, home run, four RBI and two runs scored. On August 30 in Cleveland, he went 2-for-4 with two home runs. Batting .308 for the season, Hafner is ranked second in the A.L. in home runs (42) and RBI (117) as of September 4. This marks the second time Hafner has one the monthly honor (June 2005).

Loaiza went 4-0 in six starts, with a 1.48 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 42.2 IP during the month of August. The 34-
year-old right-hander has not allowed an earned run in his last three starts. Against the Blue Jays in Toronto on
August 23, he pitched a complete-game four-hit shutout with seven strikeouts. On August 28 against Boston in
McAfee Coliseum, Loaiza went seven innings, allowing five hits and striking out four for the win. As of September 4,
the two-time All-Star is 9-7 with a 4.58 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 125.2 IP this season. This is Loaiza's second A.L.
Pitcher of the Month Award (April 2003 with Chicago).

Dye (.355, 10 HR, 30 RBI) finished second in the voting to Hafner. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitcher
Francisco Rodriguez (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 12 saves, 31 K) finished second to Loaiza. Also receiving votes were pitchers
Johan Santana (Minnesota) and Jon Garland (White Sox). Hafner and Loaiza each will receive a specially designed
trophy as the American League Player and Pitcher of the Month.